Dena Paige-Fischer enjoys a span of creative endeavors to fill her days, but making cakes resembling canines effortlessly combines her artistic skills with her love for dogs.

The tasty edible canvas, in the form of impressionistic "Dog Face Cakes," manages to get people excited and surprised.

“People love to see their beloved pets captured in an artistic form,” Fischer said.

Dog Face Cakes have even been requested as wedding cakes. ”Since they cannot have their dogs at the wedding, this is a sweet way to include their pet,” she said.

Fischer, 23, was raised in a family that cultivated her passion for art and baking.

Her mother is a baker and her father a sculptor. Fischer ’s mom, Patti Paige, began Baked Ideas in 1979, out of SoHo.

The Brooklyn based artist grew up around the business and all the employees in “a kind of big family.”

Fischer’s affection for dogs came early on. “I got my first dog, a Jack Russell named Julia, when I was five, after much begging and pleading,” she said. “She was the subject of drawings, paintings, poems and stories for the next 14 years. “

In college, Fischer studied Fine Arts at Maryland Institute College of Art, and created artwork outside of baking, including sculpture, painting and drawing. She began fostering dogs in Baltimore and kept her second foster, a pit bull named Luka.

Although Baked Ideas is her mom’s bakery, Fischer comes in regularly to work on special projects and she does much of the design and styling of the cakes and cookies.

For the Dog Face Cakes, Fischer uses classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla and icing made of ganache, buttercream or fondant. The cakes are baked with “fresh and natural ingredients” at Baked Ideas.

Fischer misses the foster work, but with her own two rescued dogs and a hectic schedule, she has no time. “I still love all dogs and have contributed several cakes to various shelter fundraisers,” she added.

A portion of the sales goes to Animal Haven, a Soho shelter for dogs and cats.

(Cynthia Via)

Dog Face Cakes can be ordered by phone or e-mail. Examples of custom jobs, and contact info found at www.bakedideas.com.>